Newtown 1-2 Bala Town: Lakesiders survive second-half scare to win at Latham Park

⚽ Y Drenewydd 1-2 @BalaTownFC

Triphwynt i’r Bala gyda Louis Robles a Chris Venables yn sgorio.@LouisRobles7 and @CSVenners with the goals as Bala Town win at Latham Park.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #JDCymruPremier pic.twitter.com/mAG8x82wyC

— ⚽ Sgorio (@sgorio) February 22, 2020

Bala Town withstood late pressure from Newtown to claim an important three points on the road. 

First half goals from Louis Robles and Chris Venables were enough for the Lakesiders to secure the victory, as the Robins couldn’t add to Ian Sheridan’s second half header. 

The win puts Colin Caton’s men in a good position to secure European football for next season, as they currently sit in third. 

Third place will secure a Europa League spot in the likely case that either Connah’s Quay Nomads or The New Saints win the Welsh Cup. 

Newtown’s defeat means that is is likely that the European play-offs will be their only route to Europa League football next season. 

The fixture was hotly-contested, as both sides had good spells in the game, but Bala Town were the more clinical of the two sides. 

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Both sides started the game well in what was an entertaining first half, played at high tempo. 

The referee was called into action in just the sixth minute, after a coming together in the box between Henry Jones and Sean McAllister. 

Despite the away side’s appeals for a penalty, Henry Jones was booked for simulation. 

Both Bala and Newtown were trying to get in behind the opposition defences, with Nick Rushton and Louis Robles trying to beat the offside trap. 

On both occasions, goalkeepers Dave Jones and Josh Tibbetts were quick off their line to clear the danger. 

Newtown grew into the game and asserted their control of proceedings in a good spell of numerous chances for the Robins. 

Left-back Jack Kelly was at the heart of Chris Hughes’ side’s attacking play, surging down the left and delivering crosses, only for the Bala Town defenders to head clear. 

Kelly found himself free in the box after a succession of Alex Fletcher corners, but headed into the arms of Josh Tibbetts.

The Robins were made to pay for their failure to score when on top, as it was the Lakesiders’ turn to have a good spell in the game. 

Dangerman Chris Venables found himself in space and played a shrewd pass inside to Kieran Smith, who forced a fine save out of Dave Jones. 

Bala Town should have gone in front in the 25^th minute, when Sean McAllister lost the ball on the edge of his own box. 

Chris Venables fired towards goal, only for Dave Jones to parry the ball into the path of Henry Jones, who hit the post with the rebound. 

The deadlock was broken just two minutes later, as a low cross from the right fell to Newtown’s Joe Kenton, whose heavy touch allowed Louis Robles to fire home. 

The Lakesiders doubled their lead shortly after, when a shot from distance was blocked into the path of Chris Venables, who rounded Dave Jones and slotted into an empty net for his 21^st of the season.

Frustrations threatened to boil over, as Newtown’s Alex Fletcher was booked for protesting the goal.

As the Robins tried to halve the deficit before half-time, they were reduced to efforts from distance, with January signing Ryan Edwards blazing over. 

In a half where both sides had good spells, Bala Town were clinical when on top and went into the break with a two goal lead. 

The Robins came out of the blocks very quickly in the second half, with striker Ian Sheridan going close twice. 

Sheridan curled an effort from the left side of the box just past the post and was later put through on goal by Ryan Edwards, but fired over. 

Much like the first half, the Lakesiders then had a good spell, when a ball over the top stretched the Newtown defence with Venables free. 

The striker crossed low into the box, but Mills-Evans was on hand to clear. 

Kieran Smith then found himself free on the edge of the box, but his curling effort was wide of the mark. 

With an hour played, Chris Hughes rolled the dice and introduced Lifumpa Mwandwe in the place of Joe Kenton. 

The striker, on loan from Shrewsbury, made an instant impact, putting in a perfect cross for Ian Sheridan to head home at the back post, as Newtown halved the deficit in the 70^th minute.

The Robins put Bala Town under pressure in their search for an equalizer, with Mwandwe causing problems for the Lakesiders. 

Despite Newtown’s efforts to find an equalizer, Bala Town withstood a late barrage to secure the win.

Nick Rushton was shown a controversial late red card for dissent, as Josh Tibbetts was fouled in the box.

In a game where both sides had good spells, Newtown were left to rue their missed chances, as clinical Bala claimed the three points. 

Newtown: Dave Jones, Craig Williams, Kieran Mills-Evans, Neil Mitchell, Jack Kelly, Alex Fletcher, Sean McAllister (Matty Williams 83’) Nick Rushton, Joe Kenton (Lifumpa Mwandwe 60’) Ian Sheridan (George Harry 83’) Ryan Edwards

Goals: Ian Sheridan 70′

Red Card: Nick Rushton 90′

Bala Town: Josh Tibbetts, Andy Burns, Anthony Stevens, Sean Smith, Nathan Burke, Oliver Shannon, Lassana Mendes, Henry Jones (Lee Molyneux 83’) Chris Venables, Louis Robles (Steven Leslie 83’), Kieran Smith

Goals: Louis Robles 31, Chris Venables 33

You can follow Bala Town’s win at Newtown with our blog below: 

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)